Ignition timer



Jan. 1, 1929. 1,697,522 G..M. CUSICK IGNITION TIMER Filed April 26, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 (Tor-na Patented Jan. 1, 1929.

PATENT OFFICE.

I GEORGE M;- cusr cx, on GRAND RAPIDS,- MICHIGAN.

IGNITION TIMER.

Application filed April 26, 1926. Serial No. 104;645.

This invention relates to a timing control or governing mechanism useful for conrolling the time of spark in the ignition" system of internal combustion engines. p The present lnvention is applicable either d1- rectly to a timer of the type used in Ford automobiles, or may be used in conjunction with the coupling between a magneto shaft and the shaft driving the same so that the time of spark controlledby the magneto may be varied automatically and in conjunction with the different; speeds of the internal combustion engine withwhich it is associated.

The constructions embodying the invention and the functionsserved-thereby will be apparent-as understanding. of the invention is had from the following description taken in connection; with the accompanying drawings, in which,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation Of'llhfi' inven tion applied to a Ford timer. Fig. 2 isan enlarged vertical section therethrough.

Fig. 3 isa sectionsimilar to that shown in Fig. 2 illustrating: thev same invention adapted to the coupling between a driving shaft andthe shaft of a magneto driven thereby.

Fig. 4 is a section substantially on the line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a section, reduced somewhat in size, taken substantially'on the-plane of line 55of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary enlarged section 1 and elevation through the apparatus,. substantially on the plane of line 6 6 of 3, and

I Fig. 7 is a viewsimilar to-F1g.-5'1llustrating: the apparatus assembled for applicationto a shaft rotationin a directionopposite from that indicated in the remaining. figures ofthe drawings.

' Like reference characters refer to like parts in'the several figures of the drawings As shown in 2 the shaft 1 is the for ward end of the timing'or camshaft of; a-

Ford motor vehicle engine, it having areduced extension 2 at its front'end in which an opening'is made to receive a-key pin The shaftl passes through'the front end 4 ofthe engine block and an annular rib 5 is. cast integral with and extends forwardfrom' said front end "-f' of the-block concentric with the shaft 1.

to serve thesame purpose as the key pin 3" and with which the apparatus of my invention in both cases is engaged to hold it on its shaft so as to rotate therewith.

In the construction of the deviceof my invention, a sleeve 6 is formed having a key 7 cut thereinthe sleeve passing over way either the shaft portion 2 or the shaft 1- sothat the keys 3 or 3 are receivedin the key ways 7. The sleeve is engaged at its outer end by a nut Sthreadedon the end of the shaft 2 in the form of the invention shown in Fig. 2. In each case sleeve 6 at its front end is formed with an integral outwardly extending and relatively. large flange 9 and a distance from said flange, a second flange 10 is provided and also made integral with the sleeve 6, there being an annular groove between the two flanges 9 and 10. The flange 10 is of less diameter than the flange 9, as shown.

In the groove between said fianges, two weight members 11 are. positioned, of the form best shown in Fig. 6' and are pivotally -1nounted on pins 12 which extend through the flange 10 and the weights 11, and at their outer ends are threaded to engage with nuts 18, said nuts being received in suitable cylindrical openings made through the flange 9, as shown. These weights 11 are substantially are shaped in formand are pivoted near one end andadjacent their inner side so that with the rotation of the device as hereafter described, there is a tendency for the weights to-swing outwardly about the axisof the pins 12 caused by centrifugal force and such outward swing. will becomeg-reater withthe increased speed of rotation, as is evident. At theinner side of-the flangelO and around the sleeve 6 a member 16L is mounted. This member may be termed an equalizer member and is of substantially cup shape having an opening In the construction shown in Fig. 3 the equalizer member 14'"- is of slightly different form: than that shown in eFig. 2, but both enclose an annular chamber 16 around the sleevefi intowhich, at diametrically opposed in the slots of the blocks 21. .time there is a turningmovement of the pins 20 about the axis of the pins 12, this oscillate on the sleeve 6 whereby the lugs mounted on the pin 12, in hich case the squaredpins 20 will be'located so as to enter points, lugs 17 extend inwardly from the equalizer member toward said sleeve. as shown in Figs. and 7. The pins 12 extend into said chamber 16, one near each of'the lugs 17 and coiled springs 18 located Within the chamber hear at one end against the pins 12 and are engaged at their opposite ends with adjusting members 19 which in turn bear against the lugs 17, this being fully shown in Fig. 5.

From each of the members 11 described, a pin 20 extends into substantially cylindrical. blocks 21 mounted in op iings 22, formed in, the face of the equalizer member 14. .Said pins20, where they extend into said blocks 21 are square in cross section and are-received in slots cut in the block. 21 from one side thereof nearly to theopposite side. It is evident that when the weights 11 move outwardly the same turn about the pins 12 and the squared pins 20 must move a limited distanceback and forth At the same causing the equalizer member 14 (or 14) to 17, shown in Fig. 5, move in a clockwise direction and pins 12 remaimng relatively stationary the springs 18 are compressed Said springs 'therefore'tend to resist the outward swinging: movement of saidmembers 11 and whenjsaid members do swing outwardl the s arin s are com ressed so t:

that when the speed of rotation reduces the springs act to returnthe weighted membe s 1 1 to nner position. i

It willbe noted (referring to 6) that in the equalizer member there are two oairs of the o enin s 22 to receive the c"- l P e lindrical plugs 21. This is to provide for the application of the mechanism to shafts rotating in opposite directions. When the weights are mounted, shown 111 Fig. 6,

the direction of rotation is clockwise but that when again applied the lugs 17 are as shown the opposite sides of the pins 12, mi 1g. 7. And the weighted members 11 must also be removed reversed and again plugs 21 placed in the openings22 which in Fig. 6 now appear empty. In other words,

bymerely adding twoextra openings 22 at PIOPCDPOSIUODS, as shown in F 1g. 6, the

device can be assembled for operation when connectedto shafts turning in eitherdirection. l

In, the form ofthe invention shown in Figs. 3 and 1 E1 the equalizer member is The other sides of the plug 24: are engaged by forks 25 extending from a member 26 which is permanently secured to the end of the magneto shaft 29, any suitable couplim means, indicated at 27 and 28, being usec. This construction, shown in Figs. 3 and 4 and just described, is very similar to that set forth in my Patent No. 1,5 l8,191, issued August 1, 1925. 7

When the timing governing device is applied to a timer used with internal combustion engines of the Fordtype, the equalizing member 14 is flattened at one side, as indicated at 30. A ring 31 of suitable insulating material preferably bakelite, surrounds the equalizer member back of the weights 11 and in turn is surrounded by ametal ring 33, the outer diameter of which is such that it fits at its inner end withinthe annular rib5 projecting from the front end e'of the engine block. At a plurality of equally spaced points around the ring 31 cylindrical openings 32 are bored inwardly from the outer to the inner side of said'ring. In each of these openings a metal sleeve 34 is fixed, the inner end of each sleeve coming to the inner side of the ring 31 but the outer ends, terminating a distance SllOIL- of the outer side of said ring. ,Within each of the sleeves 34 a second sleeve 35 of insulating 'material is permanently secured. Through each of the sleeves 35 a Contact member 36 freely passes havingits inner end bearing against the outer surface of the equalizing member 14 and being formed at its outer end with a head 37 substantially the same form as a screw head, that is, having a beveled inner side, the outer ends of the, sleeves 34 being correspondingly beveledfor countersunk. Each of the contact members 36 is bored inwardly from its outer end nearly through to its inner end making a cylindrical opening, in the bottom of which a coiled spring 38 is located and in the outer portion of which a pin 39 is loosely mounted, the same at its outer end bearing against the inner side oft-he metal ring 33 by reason ofthe'spring 38 forcing it outward, there also being a tendency to force the member 36 inwardl A I The wires d0 carrying electric current are connected to suitable screws 41 which thread into sleeves 12 molded in the bakelite ring 31 at one side and each of the sleeves 12 is connected by a wire 43 with one of the sleeves 3d; In the form shown there are four ignition wires 10 andfour eontactsmounted within four sleeves 34. The connections between wires 40 and thescrews l1 are housed within a housing of any suitable inshlat ing material. a

A rod 45 is connected with the rings 33 and '31 at one end at their upper side, when the same are installed on an engine, as shown in Fig. 1', while a' pin- 16 extends therefrom ears 51 through which a rod 52 passes, its

free end passin over the pin 46 to hold the timer mechanism from disengagement with the annular rib 5. 'Oneof the ears 51 is further formed into a retaining clip 53 engageable with a suitable projecting rib on the engine block.

In the construction shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5, shaft 1 being continuously driven by the engine, the sleeves 6 and parts connected thereto, rotates continuously. The weights 11 tend to move outwardly as the speed of rotation increases and when the centrifugal force overcomes the resistance of the springs 18 such weights move outwardly with a consequent change of position of the equalizing member 14. This is true not only of the construction shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5 but also of that shown in Fig. 3. With the construction shown in Fig. 3 this change of position of the equalizing member causes the magneto connected with the shaft 29 to advance its time of sparking compared to what the time of spark is with the weights in their inner position. With the constructionshown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5 the equalizer at 14 is changed in position on the sleeve 6 so that the flattened portion 30 comes to the different contact members 12, at a different time advancing the spark. It is evident that whenever the flat section 30 on the equalizer member 14: comes to a contact member 12 the member is ushed inwardly until the head 37 contacts Wltll its associated sleeve 34:, this completing a circuit for making a spark at the spark plug in one of thecylinders of the engine. Then as soon as the fiat side 30 has passed by said contact member 12 it is engaged and forced outwardly breaking the electric connection between the head 37 and its associated metal sleeve 34.

It is, accordingly, clear that with the constructions which I have devised an internal combustion engine may be started with the spark properly retarded but that with the increase in speed the spark is advanced in accordance with the outward swing or throw of the members 11. This is a very valuable feature in connection with internal combustion engines. The spark is automatically retarded and advanced with decrease and increase in the speed of rotation of the engine, obviating danger of back the when starting,

increasing power by getting the fullforce of the explosion when the pistonis at its highest-point of compression, lessening the amount of carbon in the cylinders asthe charge is fired when at the highest point of compression, thereby burning in-a carbon form more readily, and eliminating undue strains on the engine which occur by having a'spark'too far advanced at low speeds. The construction is also very durable, there being'no deterioration of the parts from areing at contact points as the electric connection between heads 37 and the sleeves 3 1' is securely maintained all the time that current is passing and there is a stronger and hotter I spark. The adjustment'of the springs 18 maybe made to properly govern the timing of the spark in high or low compression engines and a regulation of the timer can be obtained by the adjusting nuts at 50 and this, while the engine is running. There is, of course, also an elimination of any manually controlled spark lever, the timing of the spark being automatically controlled in accordance with the speed of the engine. This construction permits a 20 degree advance, saves a considerable portion of the wire now ordinarily used in leading to timer housings and all of the wires are in an upper accessible position out of the oil and dirt which ordinarily collects at the lower side of a timer. This construction has been built and practically used on a great many motor vehicles and has proved particularly practical and efficient. The invention is defined in the appended claims and is to be considered as comprehensive of all forms of structure com ing within their scope.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, a shaft, a body attached to said shaft to rotate therewith, weights pivotally mounted on the body and adapted to swing outward on rotation of said body, a member extending partially over the body and free to turn thereon, there being an annular recess between said member and the body and said member in one end near its outer side having openings therein, the open ends of which are adjacent sides of said Weights, pins located outwardly from the pivots of said. weights attached to said weights and extending into said openings, lugs projecting inwardly from said member into the annular recess, coiled springs between said lugs and extensions to said pivot pin passing into the annular recess whereby on rotation of the shaft said member is rotatably moved onv said body against the springs, the movement being increased with the greater speeds of rotation of said shafts and vice versa.

2. In a device of the class described, a rotating shaft, a body fixed on said shaft,

wveights pivotally mounted on the body to momber loosely mounted on the body and movable thereon about the axis of said shaft, there being an annular recess between the member and said body, springs disposed in said recess, means whereby on rotation of the member in one direction said springs are compressed, means for turning the body against said springs as said Weights are thrown outwardly, and means for connecting said Weights With the member at two different places to thereby render the device effective on rotation of the shaft in either direction. p

3. In a timer, a contact carrying member comprising a ring of insulating material having a plurality of radial'openings therethrough, a metal ring surrounding the insulating ring, a metal sleeve Within each opening, an insulating sleevewithin each metal sleeve a contact member mounted Within each insulating sleeve and having an opening bored longitudinally therein from its outer end toward its. inner end, a spring disposed in said opening, a pin loosely mounted in said opening bearing againstthe spring at one end and against said metal ring at the other end, said contact member at its outer end being provided With a head which at inner position contacts against the outer end of its associated metal sleeve.

In'testimony whereof I atlixmy signature.

GEORGE M. GUSECK. 

